Method for producing a beverage

Abstract

Various beverage preparation methods are disclosed. The beverage preparation method can include purifying a first portion of an extract with reverse osmosis. The method can further include concentrating a second portion of an extract with freeze concentration, the first portion of the extract being separate from the second portion of the extract. The method can further include spray drying the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract to produce dried particles. The ratio of the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract can be at least 3:1.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a beverage, the method comprising:
 purifying a first portion of an extract with reverse osmosis;   concentrating a second portion of the extract with freeze concentration, the second portion of the extract being separate from the first portion of the extract; and   spray drying the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract to produce dried particles,   wherein a ratio of the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract is at least 3:1.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the extract is not subject to freeze concentration. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the extract is not subject to reverse osmosis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract is at least 4:1. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract is at least 9:1. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising combining the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract prior to spray drying. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein spray drying comprises spray drying the first portion of the extract separately from the second portion of the extract to produce a first portion of dried particles and spray drying the second portion of the extract separately from the first portion of the extract to produce a second portion of dried particles. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising combining the first portion of dried particles and the second portion of dried particles after spray drying. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extract comprises cold brew coffee. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extract comprises hot brew coffee. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising roasting an extraction material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising introducing an extraction medium into the extraction material to extract the extract from the extraction material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extraction medium comprises water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extraction medium is at a temperature between 15′ C and 30° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extraction medium is at a temperature below 30° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reconstituting the dried particles to produce the beverage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dried particles are reconstituted with water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein purifying the first portion of the extract with reverse osmosis comprises purifying the first portion into a thin liquor having a concentration between 20 Bx to 40 Bx. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein concentrating the second portion of the extract with freeze concentration comprises concentrating the second portion of the extract to a concentration between 35 Bx to 45 Bx. 
     
     
         20 . A system for producing a beverage, the system comprising:
 a brewer configured to receive an extraction material and a flow of extraction medium to produce an extract;   a reverse osmosis system configured to receive a first portion of the extract;   a freeze concentration system configured to receive a second portion of the extract, the second portion of the extract separate from the first portion of the extract; and   a spray drying chamber configured to receive the first portion of the extract and/or the second portion of the extract to produce spray dried particles,   wherein a ratio of the first portion of the extract and the second portion of the extract is at least 3:1.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a reconstitution system for receiving the first portion of the extract and/or the second portion of the extract.